1. Quality of Life in Rural Europe 2 June 2006
Henrik Litske
Research Manager
European Foundation for the Improvement of
Living and Working Conditions
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2. Survey methodology Representative household survey
Interviews in Spring 2003
Coverage: EU countries including 10 new Member States; 3 candidate countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey)
Sample size: 600 – 1000 people
Response rate: 58%
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3. Analytical reports 2006: Monitoring
Quality of work and life
Urban/rural differences (Professor Mark Shucksmith, University of Newcastle, UK)
Participation in civil society
Time use over the life course
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4. Where people live
RURAL
URBAN
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5. The people who live in rural Europe
In comparison with urban residents they are:
Older, retired
Less likely to have a university education
More likely to be married/living with partner
Likely to have more children
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6. Poverty Indicator: Cannot afford to have friends/ family for a drink or meal at least once a month
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7. Did not use internet over the past month
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8. Social Capital Indicator: Served on a committee or did voluntary work
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9. Shucksmith / Analytical report
Country clusters:
EU 12 – High income
EU 7 – Intermediate income
EU 6 – Low income
CC 3
The poorer the country, the bigger the differences
between rural and urban areas
More spending on broad rural development, targeted at poorer rural areas of the EU
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10. Promoting job creation through social capital in rural areas in Europe
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11. Working definition ‘Social capital’ is understood as interaction of
individuals within formal networks
Social trust
Communication
Participation
Cultural dimension
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12. Belonging to networks Increases: Individual knowledge Employability
Creativity
Innovation
Locally: Stimulates entrepreneurship, economic
growth, employment and social cohesion
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13. Objectives of project
To document the evidence that the level of social capital affects economic development and job creation across rural areas; and that increasing social capital is associated with job creation;
To identify examples of how local and regional authorities, social partner initiatives and NGOs in rural communities have developed services, networks or facilities to create social capital and job creation, paying particular attention to the new Member States;
To develop research-based recommendations for policy-making at local, national, and in particular, EU level.
Minimum of three EU15 Member States, three new Member States, plus Bulgaria and Romania
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14. Next steps 2006-2007 Contract in June 2006
First draft report should be available by 16 November 2006
Final report should be available by 26 March 2007
Preparation of a high-profile policy conference, possibly with LEADER+ Observatory, in September 2007
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